George Takei: LGBT discrimination “remains a long and ugly shadow across” Boy Scouts of America

But in an essay posted Wednesday, the Star Trek icon writes that “there remains a long and ugly shadow across the organization, for the Boy Scouts of America–the largest youth organization in the country–continues to discriminate openly against LGBT people, both as members and as scout leaders.”

Takei is speaking out because of Boy Scouts dismissed Ohio den mom Jennifer Tyrrell as leader of her son’s troop because she is a lesbian. [See story HERE].

“Ms. Tyrell had taken the troop to soup kitchens and on conservation projects at a local state park. She imbued in the scouts the core values of citizenship, compassion, respect, and responsibility,” he writes. “But no matter: She was hounded out, merely because of who she is and who she loves. As a former scout, it is particularly distressing to see this rigid homophobia of the scout leadership exercised so callously in this day and age. While I respect the right of organizations to their beliefs, when the organization is as influential as the Boy Scouts, I am compelled to speak out–and I have just as much right to voice my opposition to bigotry and call for its end.”